Allahabad, Sep 3: Lok Janshakti Party president Ram Vilas Paswan today demanded adequate representation for dalits, minorities and backward classes in the selection committee that would appoint the Lokpal.
“I will raise the matter at the meeting of Parliamentary Standing Committee going into the Lokpal issue which is likely to be held on September 7,” he said here.
The Rajya Sabha MP from Bihar is also a member of the Committee.
“My party's stand reflects the concerns of all members of such social groups,” Paswan said.
The former Union Minister is in favour of keeping lower-rung government officials under the purview of Lokayuktas of respective states who, he said, should be allowed to function independently of the Lokpal.
Opposing the idea of bringing lower judiciary under the ambit of the Lokpal, Paswan said “courts have been accorded the highest status by our Constitution and nothing should be done which goes against its spirit”.
“Former RSS ideologue Govindacharya and leaders of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad have themselves been claiming that the crowd that had gathered at the Ram Lila Maidan comprised Sangh Parivar volunteers,” he said when asked about the character of Hazare's anti-graft campaign.
However, Paswan added he was not trying to say that the entire movement was sponsored by the Sangh Parivar. PTI
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